Category: Guided By Voices

Today marks 10 years since the passing of John Peel, a man who opened the BBC radio airwaves for bands and artists outside the remit of the stations “regular” programming and opened the minds of thousands listening at home to sounds they otherwise may have never heard. One of the original BBC Radio 1 DJs, throughout his 5-decade spanning career he never showed no signs of slowing down and his influence on (the good part) of modern music is immeasurable.

As a small tribute to the many Matador bands who recorded a Peel Session over the years, we’ve compiled a selection of some of the session that made it on to YouTube, (many – including The Fall, Wisdom Of Harry and Pretty Girls Make Graves – haven’t) and there’s a full archive of all the Peel sessions over at the BBC Website: http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/johnpeel/sessions/.

The first recordings from the classic Guided By Voices lineup of Robert Pollard, Tobin Sprout, Mitch Mitchell, Greg Demos and Kevin Fennell hit the stores on November 22 with the Matador single from their upcoming self-released album “Let’s go Eat The Factory.” The single is called “The Unsinkable Fats Domino” b/w “We Won’t Apologize,” and you can download an MP3 of the A-side here:

Find these, and many other new and classic Matador, True Panther and distributed releases here. Spend over $50, and get free shipping AND while you’re at it, pick up a new Matador tote bag (cuz let’s be honest, who doesn’t love a tote? )

First off, if these changes have left anyone disappointed or inconvenienced, we’re truly sorry. I’ve been watching videos of the guys in the BP commercials all week trying to strike the right tone for this post, and wouldn’t you know it, MY VIDEO CAMERA IS BROKEN. Bullet dodged.

On the bright side, hey, DEAD MEADOW are playing. The opening VIP gala is still happening at 4pm Friday in the Hardwood Suite with dj sets by Ted Leo and myself. Same room becomes a VIP lounge Friday and Saturday nights, plus late night dj action on Friday (James McNew, Dean Bein) and Saturday (Dave Martin, Robby Morris). Here’s the live entertainment schedule of events. Much like real life, everything is subject to change.

LATE NIGHT PARTY IN PALMS BALLROOM (LIMITED CAPACITY)
Fucked Up Vs. Ted Leo and The Pharmacists: 1:30am – 2:30am
(One stage. Two bands. At once. They’re supposed to take turns, song by song…but who knows?)
Doors: 1:00am

2 of the first documentaries ever made about music* are set to grace Austin’s silver screen later this month when Alamo Drafthouse teams up with End Of An Ear and Matador to bring you Watch Me Jumpstart and Slow Century — two films about esteemed Matador alums Guided By Voices and Pavement — as part of the Alamo’s Music Monday Series.
$2 gets you admission along with some killer food and drink specials.

And be sure to catch the bands when they come to the Casual Victi…. er…. Live Music Capital.

Guided By Voices
Thursday September 30 @ East Side Drive
w/ Times New Viking

First of all, we know you’ve been waiting patiently for the information below, and we sincerely apologize for the length of time it took to get it together. But if wanting to put together an even sicker bill than previously announced is a crime, PLEASE LOCK US UP.

1) 50 additional pairs of tickets priced at $250.00 per person (not including taxes and fees) will be available via a public lottery sometime next week. We’ll announce the details here and on the 21 site beforehand.

2) Details regarding a limited number of room upgrades will be available at that time.

3) We regret to announce that at present, our supply of VIP tickets has been exhausted. If that situation changes, we’ll let you know.

On August 27 & 28, New York will be graced with “The Public Hi-Fi Balloon,” an exhibit of more than 60 Robert Pollard collages at NYC’s The 45 Space (45 Bond Street, between Lafayette & Bowery), hosted by Vanity Fair’s Michael Hogan and visual artist Todd DiCiurcio.

You know Bob’s work from his album covers (or the 2008 Fantagraphics book of his art), but these are phenomenal pieces that need to be seen in person to fully appreciate.

Opening night is Friday, August 27, from 6-11 PM, and the exhibit will also be open to visitors on the 28th from 2-11 PM. Check Pollard’s website for more info.

You should also know that Bob Pollard shares a Halloween birthday with Vermeer, Johnny Marr, Ad-Rock, Larry Mullen Jr., and Vanilla Ice.

Tickets for “The Lost Weekend” aka Matador’s 21st birthday celebrations at The Palms will go on sale this Friday morning at 9am, PST. Here’s the details you’ve been hassling all of us about over the last week (and don’t think we don’t appreciate it)

a) Tickets/Pricing : An initial quantity will be on sale Friday for $SOLD. .After the $SOLD tickets sell out, the price increases to $SOLD. A Ticketfly.com link will be posted on this site on Thursday, July 8th. Starting Friday, you’ll have the opportunity to reserve standard rooms at the Palms for the discounted rate of $SOLD per night (the full 3 nights of the festival, only). The rooms feature two double bed and occupancy of up to 4 persons is allowed. The above rate is only available when purchasing tickets thru us. If you are interested in upgrading to a larger room or a suite you will be able to do so after purchasing the standard room. TICKETS FOR THE 3 NIGHTS + ROOMS are being sold jointly — we’re not selling tickets to the shows separately at this time, nor are we selling tickets for individual nights.

(ADDENDUM -i) A limited number of 3-day tickets priced at $SOLD—with no Palms reservation required — will be available Friday morning at 9am PST via Ticketfly.com

ii) if, for example, you’re buying 4 tickets to the shows, the $SOLD per night hotel fee can cover up to 4 people. $SOLD over 3 nights divided by 4 is hopefully not an crazy amount to charge for rooms in a world class resort).

B) VIP tickets. A limited number of VIP packages will be available at $SOLD — details about what you’ll get for the $SOLD are forthcoming. You’ll have the ability to upgrade from the regular tickets, assuming the VIP tickets aren’t sold out.

D) MORE BANDS. OK, we’re working on it. But in addition to the 19 artists confirmed on the above poster, we can confirm the original lineup of COME — Thalia Zedek, Chris Brokaw, Sean O’Brien and Arthur Johnson — will be participating. Actually, we already know who some of the other bands are, we’re just trying to drag this out. MORE MATABLOG CONTENT between now and October!

E) Set times – we’ll post these the week before the event.

F) These shows are open to all ages. However, access to the casino floor is limited to those 21 and over.

F) WHAT ABOUT LAS VEGAS HUMANS? Las Vegas’ Zia Records is selling 50 tickets to “The Lost Weekend” starting Friday, July 9. You’ll need a Nevada I.D. Reservations at the Palms are not required to purchase these tickets.

(ADDENDUM II :

INFORMATION FOR TICKETS AVAILABLE IN LAS VEGAS

Zia Records

4225 South Eastern Avenue

Las Vegas, NV 89119-5485

702-735-4942

Zia Records

4503 W. SAHARA

LAS VEGAS, NV 89102

702-233-4942

Tickets will go onsale at both stores at 10:00am on Friday, July 9th via lottery. By overwhelming demand by Nevada Residents we will be increasing the amount of tickets available (50 X 2 = 100) . There is a two ticket limit. Nevada state ID required for purchase. Any questions please email [email protected]

As mentioned previously in this space, Matador will be celebrating the label’s 21st anniversary this October and this much we can finally confirm : there will be 3 nights of shows starting Friday October 1, and concluding Sunday October 3 at the Palms Casino & Resort In Las Vegas, NV. We’ll be dropping further hints about the amazing lineup in the days ahead, but a final announcement and information about how to purchase tickets will be made here at the trusty Matablog on July 5. Are you as psyched as we are? (hopefully yes, because we’re getting in for free).

(ADDENDUM – there’s been a bit of confusion so just to clear things up, tickets DO NOT GO ON SALE JULY 5. We’ll merely be announcing the on sale date/time on July 5. thanks – GC)

Last night we played at the Beachland Tavern in Cleveland and we visited Music Saves – a very cool little record shop around the corner from the venue. I talked to owners, Kevin and Melanie. Here’s a pic of us after the interview in front of their very cool neon signage.

JO’C: This is your store, right? How long have you been at it?

K&M : 4 years.

JO’C: What’s the best thing about running this store?

Kevin: All the money you make from selling independent records.

JO’C: Ha! Right… I’m familiar with that perk as well.

Melanie: Seriously, we are fans and it is really awesome to be able to be in the unique position where we can really help bands out in a way we couldn’t if we didn’t have this store. If we love a record or a band we can really push them and turn people on to them.

JO’C: How does being in such close proximity to the Beachland Ballroom affect your business? I assume that’s why you chose this location, right?

Melanie: Yes, that’s why. We work together with Beachland. We sell tickets to the shows and help promote the bands that play there. We put on shows with them sometimes. We are all good friends and part of the same community.

JO’C: Do you stay open late on show nights?

Melanie: Yes, sometimes. We did recently for the Neko Case show.

Kevin: We once stayed open until 3:30 in the morning for a Guided By Voices show.

JO’C: That’s awesome. I love the idea of being able to shop for records before, after or during a show.

Do you guys have a prized record in your own personal collection(s)?

Kevin: I’m not so much of a collector.

Melanie: Yeah, but we do have some stuff. We have like 6 copies of that first Menomena record where it folds out into a monster. There are only like 500 copies of those. We each got that for eachother for Christmas that year.

JO’C: Aw, that’s sweet. You guys are married, right?

K&M: Yes.

JO’C: Ok, just a couple more questions. What’s your favorite place to eat in Cleveland?

JO’C: Yum! And its getting to be the time of year for this question….What’s your favorite record of 2008?

Kevin: Bon Iver.

Melanie: We both love the Frightened Rabbit record too

JO’C: They just did an instore here today right?

K&M: Yup.

Kevin and Melanie also professed a love for the new Marnie Stern record but thought maybe it was too soon to add it to their favorites of the year list.

Jon Langmead got some used Willie Nelson vinyl and we went and played our set at the Tavern. Nick Lowe was playing the big room next door and I got to hear half of “(What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding” before we went on – which was pretty cool. I also met Amy Rigby and Wreckless Eric who were in attendance. So, all in all, a pretty chockful day.

STUDIO DANTE,New York City- “Do The Collage”, the debut art exhibit featuring the noted collage works of Robert Pollard, will be held December 9th and 10th, 2007.

Pollard’s exhibition will consist of more than 50 collages that date from 1990 through 2007. Using collage elements from 1930’s – 60’s era magazines, pamphlets and found obscure pictoral paperbacks as his primary tool, he portrays allegorical personas and mhallucinogenic-type environments to create small, almost random synapses of unmistakable compositions with sardonic titles, each serving as a story unto itself. The Artist’s media utilizes the archetypes of the working class, becoming pawn deities and martyrs
found within the strata of near fantasy religion and the collective unconscious.

Do The Collage is being hosted by two close friends of Pollard: visual artist Todd DiCiurcio and actor Michael Imperioli, who, along with his wife Victoria, are the Artistic Directors of Studio Dante.

Pollard’s art will be the subject of a 2008 Fantagraphic Books release, “Town of Mirrors : The
Reassembled Imagery of Robert Polllard.”

Studio Dante is located at 257 29th Street (between 7th and 8th Avenue) in Manhattan. Opening night is Sunday December 9th from 6 PM to 10 PM and the exhibit will continue thru Monday, December 10th from 12 Noon to 10 PM.